Baird publications announced an important development with Asia-Pacific Fishing to be held for the third time. The event will now be called Asia-Pacific Fishing/Ausmarine East (July 3-5, 2001) to better reflect its real focus. While originally intended as a purely commercial fishing event, Asia Pacific Fishing very quickly became much more than that. More than 50% of visitors to the first two events came from sectors of the commercial and military marine industry other than fishing. For 2001 the event has been expanded so that it does not just aim at the commercial fishing industry. It caters for owners and operators of all other kinds of commercial and military craft to around 120 metres in overall length. There will be exhibitors from all over the world.

The simple fact is that, as well as being Australia's largest fishing port, Cairns is also a major marine tourist centre and has significant naval and Customs bases as well. It is also home to major ship building and repair facilities and some very important fish processing plants. Cairns is also the centre of a very fast growing fish farming industry. While the fast growing and very lucrative fishing industry will remain a major component of Asia Pacific Fishing/Ausmarine East, the event will now cater for all the other important sectors of the Asia Pacific marine industry.

The associated two day conference on July 3 & 4 features presentations from 30 speakers and is intended to be a practical event for owners, operators, designers and builders of commercial vessels.